William James Roth, 67

YARMOUTHPORT — William James Roth, 67, of Yarmouthport, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

YARMOUTHPORT — William James Roth, 67, of Yarmouthport, died unexpectedly on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Sandra K. Roth; his mother, Gertrude Roth of Yarmouthport; stepchildren Jay Creamer of Alton Bay, N.H., and Lauren Soponis of Wilmington, N.C.; and three grandchildren, Ryan Creamer, Jordan Creamer and Riley Soponis. His father, William, died at the age of 99 in 2012.

Mr. Roth, better known as Bill Roth, was born in Hackensack, N.J., and lived in Glen Rock, N.J. After graduating from high school, in September of 1968 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served as a Photo Interpretation Specialist and Topographical Draftsman. He was stationed in California at Travis Air Force Base for one year, after which he served a year-long tour in Vietnam, followed by 27 months in the Philippines at Clark Air Force Base.

After completing his service and being honorably discharged, Bill attended Farleigh Dickinson University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in both English and Art History, graduating magna cum laude. After graduating from Farleigh Dickinson in 2.5 years, he attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he completed his coursework for a Ph.D in Art History under the direction of Earle Powell, current curator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. While in Texas, he also taught undergraduate courses for the University of Texas for 2.5 years.

After studying at the University of Texas, Bill relocated to Brooklyn, N.Y., and served as curator for the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, N.Y. He left Brooklyn to start his own antique business in Manchester, Vt., where he lived for six years with his previous wife.

Bill's parents lived in Chatham, Mass., and he left Vermont to move closer to them on Cape Cod. His love of antiques brought him to Dennis where he was an antiques dealer until he met his wife, Sandra, and moved to Yarmouthport. They were married in 1981 and shortly thereafter founded a small business together building replicas of and restoring early American furniture. He was perennially listed in Early American Life Magazines list of the 100 best traditional craftsmen in America.

Throughout his career, Bill worked as a subcontractor and consultant for the 18th Century Co., Durham, Conn., and Benjamin S. Clark and Associates, one of the most knowledgeable furniture moving and restoration firms in New England.

There will be a brief memorial service at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2013, at the Hallett Funeral Home, 273 Station Ave., South Yarmouth, followed by a military ceremony at Woodside Cemetery, Yarmouthport.

Mr. Roth was an avid animal lover and dedicated much of his life to the well-being and protection of both wild and domestic animals.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Roth's family requests donations be sent in his name to the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah; or the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

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